Let's Be Consistent -- Drop the Candy!

This year it was better than last. Last year at a local health fair several of the organizations were giving away candy at their table, presumably to entice people to stop by their table. This year there were far less organizations doing that.

Last year the Alzheimer's Association was guilty of this, and when I pointed out that some think of Alzheimer's as a third type of diabetes, the woman at the table handed me one of their brochures that talked about this idea! This year there was no candy that I could see, so someone from the organization cared enough not to promote sweets. Congratulations, Alzheimer's Association! You figured it out.

However, the American Heart Association, still has room for improvement when it comes to encouraging people to prevent disease. On their table, right next to a handout entitled "What is Diabetes? And How Can I Control It?", there was a tin of hard candy mints. Did they not see the irony?

They wouldn't hand out cigarettes, would they? So why do they give out sweet empty calories that only contribute to the problem of excess sugar in the blood? It just does not make sense. The AHA should realize the hard candy mints do not belong in the diet when one is trying to avoid high blood sugar levels and the diseases that go with it. Don't offer candy at health fairs.

Also with the same misguided thought the Anytime Home Care representatives had lollipops for the taking. Again, lay off giving out candy if you want to be helpful to the health of your fellow Americans. Providing free candy just gives the wrong message, folks!